Diners line up for one last taste as Frisco Shop closes its doors
A classic North Austin restaurant shut its doors for good Sunday night after more than six decades of business.
Many diners stopped by to bid the Frisco Shop a historical restaurant farewell.
Most Austinites agree the Frisco Shop is more than a diner, it's been a part of Austin history.
"It's just been a nice little piece of the past that we've been holding onto all these years. It's just good memories," said Gracie
Zeigler.
Gracie and her mother Tricia have been dinning at the restaurant for years and has become staple for the family.
"I lived in Austin since I was six-years-old and this is just one more of the family owned business that's going away. And it's really sad to lose them but this one really hits home," said Tricia Zeigler.
The Frisco Shop is part of the Harry Akin's Night Hawk Chain. The chain started in 1932 and holds a critical place in Austin history.
It was among the first restaurants to hire minorities and women as early as 1935.
The restaurants desegregated in 1959, serving black customers years before the Civil Rights Act.
"He also hired people of color in front of the restaurant my daughter and I thought it was important to say goodbye to an iconic restaurant that thought about people of color as human beings and that fact that we needed to sit and be served and be respected," said Council Member Ora Houston.
After the announcing the closure last week, the restaurant located at 6801 Burnet Road has been flooded with diners. Many stopping by to reminisce about memories they've made at the 65-year-old business.
"Fresco's will be missed in my heart I've been coming here all of my life since college. My message is 'thank you,' for all the wonderful food and the great times that we've had," said Jeff Garrison.
Sunday dozens of customers waited in an unusually long line to get a last taste of their favorite dishes.
"I've been trying to get here to get pie ever since and it's been a two hour wait because we are all panicking that our pie is being taken away," said Stacy Frank.
Frisco Co-Owner Julia Akin said servers worked double-shifts and business has been better than it's been in years.
But even with its spike in business Akin said it's still not enough to keep the doors open.
"It's the economy and expense's it's the fierce competition among restaurants in Austin and it's very few people available to work for restaurants that need them. The labor pool," said Akin.
She says it's a bittersweet end.
"Just being part of a franchise that valued people. The people the Fresco Family is all the employees that have worked 60 plus years and the customers that's been the most rewarding and the hardest thing to say goodbye to," said Akin.